CLASSY CHICAGO STYLE HOPES TO HEAD WIDE OPEN FIELD OF NINE IN FRIDAY’S LURE STAKES

By Mike Willman —-

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2018)—Glen Hill Farm’s classy homebred Chicago Style takes on upstart Kencumin, iconic Alert Bay and veteran Kenjistorm in Friday’s $70,000 Lure Stakes, which has attracted a wide open field of nine 3-year-olds and up at a flat mile over the Santa Anita turf.

Idle since Jan. 28 and in steady training for trainer Tom Proctor at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, Chicago Style, who was a close second two starts back in the marathon Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 24, 2017, could well be prepping for the same race this year, but will hope to have the class to prevail at one mile off the bench.

Trainer Peter Eurton’s French-bred Kencumin, who exits a 1 ¼ length win in a second condition allowance here going a mile turf Oct. 6, appears to be on the improve and is well positioned to win his first stakes at what will be his preferred distance.

Blaine Wright’s iconic California-bred Alert Bay comes off a minor stakes win at Golden Gate Fields Sept. 3 and will be making his 36th career start. With five wins, two seconds and a third from eight starts at a mile on grass, Alert Bay is the leading money earner in the field, with $1,331,605 from an overall mark of 35-15-8-4.

CHICAGO STYLE
Owner: Glen Hill Farm Trainer: Tom Proctor
With regular rider Drayden Van Dyke riding in Kentucky, Proctor will bring in eastern-based Keiber Coa for this 5-year-old gelding’s 10th career start. Devoid of early foot, Chicago Style will need a fast pace to run at as he seeks his first stakes victory and his sixth win overall. Off as the 7-5 favorite in his second place finish in last year’s Hollywood Turf Cup, this son of Kitten’s Joy was a respectable fifth, beaten three lengths, by highly regarded Itsinthepost three starts back in Santa Anita’s Grade II John Henry Turf Championship on Oct. 1, 2017—his lone try over the Santa Anita lawn.

KENCUMIN
Owner: C R K Stable Trainer: Peter Eurton
Ultra-consistent in seven stateside starts for Eurton, this 4-year-old French-bred colt will also be getting a new rider as Brice Blanc takes over from Gary Stevens, who is also away to ride in the Breeders’ Cup. A seven furlong turf maiden winner in his second and final start in England in February, 2017, Kencumin has a win, a second and a third place finish from three starts this year and has two wins from three starts over the Santa Anita course. With sharp recent form and tactical speed in his corner, he’ll try stakes competition for the first time while competing at his preferred distance. With a 5-2-1-1 record at a mile on turf, look for up and coming Kencumin to get a stalking trip on Friday.

ALERT BAY
Owner: Peter Redekop B.C., Ltd. Trainer: Blaine Wright
Fresh off victory as the 9-5 favorite in the 1 1/16 miles turf Rolling Green Stakes at Golden Gate Fields Sept. 3, this 7-year-old California-bred gelding by City Zip is five for eight at one mile on turf and is 10-4-2-2 over the Santa Anita course. With Northern California-based Juan Hernandez engaged to ride, Alert Bay, who was second as the 9-5 favorite two starts back in the Grade III Longacres Mile Aug. 12, is a versatile sort who can attend the pace or rally from off of if need be in what will be his third start this year. Favored in 19 different races, he brings an overall mark of 35-15-8-4 to the Lure party.

THE $70,000 LURE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 10 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

1. Kenjisstorm—Rafael Bejarano—122
2. He Will—Kent Desormeaux—122
3. Secretary At War—Alonso Quinonez—122
4. Alert Bay—Juan Hernandez—125
5. Colonist—Geovanni Franco—122
6. Chicago Style—Keiber Coa—122
7. Threefiveindia—Tiago Pereira—122
8. Kencumin—Brice Blanc—122
9. La Ken—Tyler Conner—122

There is a special early first post time for a 10-race card on Friday at 12 noon. Admission gates will open at 9 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com, or call (626) 574-RACE.